MAKHACHKALA, August 5. /TASS/. About 30 militants were killed, around 200 members of illegal armed groups and their accomplices were arrested in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan during the first six months of 2016, the republican prosecutor’s office said on Friday.

"In the course of special operations alone, 29 leaders and members of illegal armed groups who offered armed resistance, including those who returned from the combat operation zone in the Syrian Arab Republic, have been killed this year. About 200 members of illegal armed groups and their accomplices were detained and brought to account," a source in the prosecutor’s office has told TASS.

The number of registered terrorist crimes grew by 57% (from 352 to 552) during the first six months of the year. "This increase is solely due to stepping up the activities of the law enforcement authorities to identify persons assisting terrorists and citizens who have left for Syria to take part in the armed conflict in this country," the source said.